The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-15
OBITUARY.

Herr Alfred Krupp, the World-Famous Gun
Founder of Essen.
BERLIN, July 14.-Herr Krupp, proprietor of
the extensive gun works at Essen. died at his
villa, near that place. to-day.
Alfred Krupp was born on April IL, 1911, at
Essen. where his father, Frederick Krupp, had
small steel foundry. In 1926 tho elder Krupp
his widow who, with the assistance of her son,
carried on the business until 1S48. when she re-
tired in favor of her assistant Herr Krupp con-
tinued to make great progress with his foundry.
reputation until the great exhibition of
1851. when he attracted attention by
sending to London g single block of steel weigh
ing 1,5O0 kiloRrammes. An English firm. how
ever, produced q still heavier block. and was
considered to have defeated its German oppo-
nent, when, to the establishment of the mercan-
tile world, second block, weighing $500 kilo-
grammes. WAS sent over from Essen, and Herr
Krupp remained the victor. In the 1862 exhibi-
ton Herr Krupp was most successful exhib-
itor. showing, among other samples Of his skill,
a cast-steel block OF 100 cwt.. which, being
broken into halves by a steam hammer of 1000
cwt., was found TO be perfectly pure and free
from flaws. The many other marves of his Skill
especially in portions of machinery for railway
locomotives and steamships, space will not permit
aiiuslon to; One speciality OF Herr krupps ex-
hibit in 1851 must not, however. be passed by
without mention, and that Eis-his cast-steel
guns The attention of the French govern
ment was particularly attracted by this artillery,
it afforded convincing proofs of the practical
value of the Essen mandatory. These guns
at that time were OF very smalfcalibre but Herr
krupp was continually experimentalizing with
them, until he finally succeeded in producing
those gigantic pieces of artillery which are now
world famous Indeed, it is asserted that up
wards of Is. 900 cast-steel guns have no to the
present time, been made by the Essen establish
ment, and disposed of in various quarters of the
globe. In the Philadelphia exhibition Of 1876
Herr Krupp exhibited many wonders that
startled Americans. accustomed
are to all kinds of mechanical wonders.
Altogether the establishment covers a super
fetal area of 1000 acres, about 100 of which are
covered with buildings. In the year 1S77 the
Krupp foundry possessed 1,648 various kinds of
furnaces, 298 steam boilers, II steam hammers,
294 steam engines ranging from two to one thou
sand horse power, or altogether 1000 horse
power, and ,063 other kinds of machines. These
figures will afford some idea of tho immensely of
his business. To keep all these foundrles
ployed Herr Krupp possessed several mines in
various parts of Germany, and even at Bilbao,
in Spain, whence the metal is brought by q regu-
lar line of steamers TO the mouth of the
the furnace. Altogether the number Of
people employed by Herr Krupp was little short
of l5. 900, who all worked together under their
employers skillful direction with the regula rity
of machine. The daily consumption of coal
by this army of workers is about 2. 200 tons. The
creature comforts and requirements of his people
were carefully provided for by Herr Krupp. He
had 8, 277 dwellings erected for his clerks and
workmen in which everything needful has been
thought of. Fire and life assurances, invalid
and pension societies, hospitals, bathing estab-
lishments. four peoples schools, besides in
dustrial school for girls. and work sch DOL for
women, all proclaim the thoughtfuness of Herr
Krupp. their founder and benefactor.
Herr Krupp had in his employ %, 900 men; but
new orders have just obliged him to hire adj
didional s, 900, which places him at the head Of
the population of small city-more than 30. 900
men. The Rothschilds only. of all Kaiser
Wihelm's subjects, return larger income than
Herr krupp.